"I had no clue she could transform into a lamb. It looked so precious and innocent, not to mention injured. That threw me off."
"She took advantage of your compassionate nature."
Dani nodded. "I wonder if she knows where or when I'm from. She mentioned a distant land."
Gavin wouldn't mention the keek-stane he'd taken to the cave, for Wilona might be eavesdropping. "Look for a spider or any sort of insect," he said. "She could be in the chamber now, listening and watching."
"Ugh. I hate spiders." Dani took a candle and inspected the corner of the door.
"If you find one, allow it to live. If she is killed before the spell is destroyed, it will remain forever."
"That's terrible. We could've killed her when she was a midge."
"She must have stayed out of the way when we were slapping at them."
Having found no spiders or insects, she placed the candlestick into the holder.
Regardless of whether Wilona spied on them, Dani had to put all her efforts into nullifying the hex. Wilona could kill her tomorrow. If that happened, she wanted Gavin to be uncursed, at least, so he would stop morphing into a hawk and live a normal life. She hoped it would also help his father's mental state.
Dani stopped Gavin in his pacing and wrapped her arms around him.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I want to hold you. You're warm and comforting."
When he enclosed her in his strong arms, she had never felt more protected and shielded.
"I wanted to strangle Alpin when I saw the rough way he treated you," Gavin growled.
"I'm all right." She kissed his throat.
He breathed out a heated breath, and she felt him relax. He brushed his lips across hers, teasing her for several seconds, making her breathless with anticipation. He gifted her with a full-on kiss that made her toes curl.
What if this was the last time they could be together? The full impact of how much Gavin meant to her now pressed in on her. At some point during the power struggle, she had come to love him and need him. She hadn't wanted that to happen. He'd become a necessary part of her life.
After removing the weapons, he picked her up and carried her to the bed.
He observed her, his eyes eloquent with emotion and regret. She felt the same. Despite the times she'd tried to return to the future, she had never truly wanted to leave him. He was her sweet, fierce devilish warrior, so strong and tough, yet vulnerable. She pressed her lips to his, trying to show him how much he meant to her.
His kisses grew more insistent. "I want you, lass."
"Yes, I want you too."
After they yanked their clothing out of the way, they joined with explosive power, body and soul. For the first time ever, she felt like they had become one.
She ran her hands into his hair and held on around his neck. He controlled everything about her—the physical sensations and emotions. Nothing existed but him and her connection to him.
Her eyes closed, she focused on his hot, harsh breaths in her ear and the maelstrom of mind-blowing sensations bombarding her body. But most profound of all, her overwhelming feelings. Each stroke drove her arousal another notch toward the peak and heightened her love for Gavin. Deepened her devotion to him. As his body claimed hers, his soul wrapped around hers and captured her heart, once and forever.
"I love you," she gasped as her pleasure crested. She muffled her cries against his shoulder, and the wave of ecstasy carried her up and flipped her over.
"Tha gràdh agam ort," Gavin growled into her ear before he shuddered against her, into her, for a long moment. "A shùgh mo chrìdhe." Becoming still, he clutched her to him and kissed her cheek. "That means I love you, my sweetest," he murmured in her ear.
"Oh, Gavin." Tears in her eyes, she kissed him. "I love you so much."
"Never have I been so thankful for anything as I am to have you as my wife." He lay down beside her and drew her against his chest.
"I'm thankful for you too." She shivered.
